Book-stitching machine



T; c. WELCH- 1300K STITCHING MACHINE I f Filed August 4, 192a '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 z IT. c..- WELCH J BOOK STITCH-INC}; MACHINE I F i-letd- August '4, 192:

7 Sheetsf-Shefi fe Oct, 5,1925,

} 1,602,380. T. c. wE| c|-| 130px 'S'IITCHING MACHI-NE' I F iled" August 4; 1923 '7 Sheets-Sheet '1 mun ' Pateiued 1926.1-

f 'UKT A K SAID WELC H, DECEASED.

Application filed ugust My invention relates to a b machine and has particular reference to a machine for stitching together the sig'natures making'up a book after theyhave been arrangediri order by the gathering machine and in addition 'to sewing the signatures covers 7 are more securely attached t6 the.

together preliminary to having the covers applied thereto, performs the function of attaching reinforcing or binding strips along the rear edges of the book so that the book and also are very much stronger and more durable in service. Another and further object of my -invention is the provision of a machine foris'titchr ing. books of unusual thickness by providing 4, -1 23. Serial no.- 655,554,-

ig is a vertical cross-sectional view 011 11116 0f Figure 3; v

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view on line the machine. on line 8- of Figure 1; and

Figure 9 is a vertical detail sectionalyiew ell on line 9-'-t9 of Figure 1. Referring now specifically to the drawings, and ;in which like reference characters mounte'di thereonin any approved manner, as by a plurallty of upwardly extending arms 12, 12. Mounted upon the lower part:

of the machine is a motor 13,'througliwhich s a cross-sectional view th'rough,

refer to likeparts throughout; a machine frame 10 is shown having a work table 11 MA as "a part of my machine means for forming power is supplied for the operation of the feedlng and-stitching apparatus, as will be spacedc'holes through the'rear edges of the I book and thereafter runningth'e bo okunderneath a sewing machine-so that the needle from the sewing, machine passes through the holes formed in .the book and thus avoids the necessity of forcing the sewing machine needle through the book,

.which has not been'possible to accomplish heretofore except inbooks which are comparatively .thi nl Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a machine which ace 1 complishes in a, single unit structures. plui-Y cal adjustment of the'shaft-M. Atthe op- "posite end of the machine, mounted 'upon.-- a transversely extendingshafti19 in a pair 95 rality of operations which have heretofore N been performed independently of each other;

and I am therefore able to effect a material saving in labor cost and also provide a more effective method of performing what has heretofore been a laborious and expensive operation in the book binding art.

shown in Figures 1 and 2;

These and other objects of my invention will be more fully and better understood by refer--' ence' to the. accompanying sheets of drawe ings, andiwher'eim- Figure 1 is "an elevational view of the front-side of my improved machine vation and partially'in section on' li ne 5-'5 of Figure 3;

';more fully described hereinafter. Mounted on the 'front end of thefram'elO of. the ma-' chinein movable blocks 14, 14, upon a shaft r 14 1s; a pulley 15, the blocks 14, 14 bering mounted in brackets 16, 16, {whichhave downwardly pro ect1'ng adjusting screws.-

17, 17, at the uppersides thereof and with upwardly projecting; adjusting screws 18 .7

'18 atlthe lowersides thereof, the blocksll, 14vbe1'ng positioned between the the screws 17 and l8-to'v provide or verti- 'Wardly extending upper adjusting screws 24, '24:, located in the tops of the brackets and upwardly projecting lower screws 25,-

25 being positioned in the lower side "of the brackets 20 and 21- by means of which a vertical adiustn'aent of the pulley 22 is ac complisheiihthe said pulleys 15 and 22 being in alignment with each other and having an v "upper endless steel feed belt- 26 extending Qthereover. 'Mounted upon a shaft 27 secured 'in bearing blocks 28 secured to the frame 10 of the machine is a pulley 29,- the position of this pulley being,- fixed with relation to.

vertical movement and being, alignment withanother pulley, 30 near the'rear end of the machine,v which is -'mounted upon va transversely extendingshaft glseeured to the machine frame 1 in anyapproved manner and which has a gear wheel 32 attached to the outer end thereof through which power "is supplied by means of a chain of gears to the pulley 22, as will be more ful- 17 described hereinafter. 'The said pulleys 29 and 30' are in alignment with each other andare also in alignment with the pulleys 15 and 22 but are smaller in diameter than the said pulleys 15 and 22 and have a steel feed belt 33 extending thereon, the upper portion of which runs underneath the belt 26 and passes over a plurality of rollers 34, 34, which are mounted in a channel 35 .formedin the table 11. Secured to the table" 11 is-a plurality of pivotally mounted arms 36, 36, by means of brackets 37, 37 through which a longitudinally positioned shaft 38 i extends, the said arms 36 having adjusting screws 39, 39- on the outer ends thereof and in' threaded engagement therewith by means of which the arms 36 can be adjusted by the operator,

the lower ends of the screws 39 contacting with -the table 11." Mounted upon the-forward ends of the arms 36 1s a plurality of yokes 40, 40, which carry a frame 41 having a plurality of rollers 42,

42, mounted therein and underneath which the feed belt 26 passes, and by means of which a predetermined pressure-is mamtained upon the book 42 'as it passes underneath the drills and sewing apparatus.

Mounted upon the front side of the ma; chine frame 10 is a pair of'verticallyextending arms 43 and 44 having a horizontally extending rod 45 in the. upper ends thereof .with a similar parallel extending rod 46 -mounted in the" said members 43 and 44,

with pair of 'adjustably mounted vertically extending rods '47 and 48' extending be tween the rods 45 and46 and upon which is slidably mounted a drill head 49 having a plurality of drill chucks 50, 50 mounted therein, with drill bits 51, 51 positioned therein and having a guide 52 at the bottom thereof with guiding plugs 52 therein, the guide member being carried by a pair of rods 52",'52", with springs 53 mounted uponthe rods 52*, 52 for assisting the drill-bits in clearing themselves from the book during the o eration of the machine. The guide 52 is positioned against an angle memf ber 54 secured to a channel member 55,

which in turn is secured to the bed 11 in any approved manner, the member 55 having a channel 56 therein within whiclrarepositioned a plurality of rollers 57, to

support the book 42 during the drilling op- -eration' a nd between which the points of the drill bits 51 extend during the drilling goperation after they pass through the book 42*. The drill bits are spaced apart from;

6 each other a suitable distance with the drill bits placed in set relation with each'other, that is, the front drill is set farthest down,

so that a hole will not be drilled completely through the book. with the first operation,

being provided having a beveled gear 60 at its upper end 'whichis in mesh with a second beveled gear 61 mounted upon a shaft 62 which is connected to an electric motor 63 by a universal coupling 64, so that during the operation of the machine the drill bits are constantly operated by the motor 63, the said motor beingmounted upon a supporting member 63 secured to the table 11'. ,An

arm 65 is provided which is connected to the drill head 49 by a bolt 66 and which in turn is connected to an eccentric sleeve 67 mounted upon an eccentric 68, which, in turn, is mounted upon a shaft 69, the said shaft 69- being secured to the frame 10 in any suit anism, which will be described in detail hereinafter, and by means of which the en.-

tire drill head 49 is moved up and down in synchronism .with the feeding movement of thebook 42 'through the'machine by the feed. bits and operating means therefor which will also beinoreifully described hereinafter. r

Mounted uponthepfeedtable 11 of the machine is a sewing head 72, this sewing headbeing of the heavy commercial form of sewing heads usually supplied for this purpose. and comprises a shaft 73 having a fly wheel 74 mounted thereon and operated a .train of gear wheels 75, 76, 77 and 78, which derive their source of power from the motor 13by suitable gear connections.

At the. outer end of the sewing head 72 is mounted a reciprocating needle holding member 79 having a sewing needle 80 mounted therein, the holding member '7 9 being mounted upon angarm 81 in the usual I fashion of sewing machines of this character, with a thread holder 82 being provided through which a thread 83 is-supplied which passes through a tension 84 and downward in the needle 80 in the usual manner of machines of this character. The thread 83 is taken from a spool 80* mounted upon a spindle 80 secured in a holding block 80 and passes through a thread guide 80 and thence to'the holder 82. Underneath the able 11 .15 mounted a bobbin 85 in a rotembie bobbi aiding device 8 in the usual manner and from which an underneath thread 87 is supplied during the stitchingoperation of the books, it being understood that the needle passes through; the holes made in the books 42 heretofore described,

exactly the same manner that ordinary sewiing is effected'by sewing machines. The

\ 1'1 bobbin carrier 86 is operatedby means of a member 88 mounted upon a shaft 89, with an eccentric portion 88 which is in engagement with .a rollerv90 mounted upon a pivotal arm 91, to the outer endof which is connected an upwardly ,extending member 92 to the upper end of which a presser foot 93 is connected, a tubular member 94-being providedwithin which a spring 95 is positioned, which normally holds the presser, foot up, out of engagement .with the book 42 and inv to engagement with the eccentric member 88, the arm 91 at its opposite end being secured to a downwardly extending member I 96 secured to the underneath side of the bed .11, the presser foot operating in synchronism with the sewing needle 80.

. The motor 13--has a belt 97 extending upward therefrom and over a pulley 98 mounted upon a transversely extending shaft 99 39 with a clutch mechanism 100 mountedsupon the shaft 99 and having an operating fork 101 operated by an arm 102 connected there to with a longitudinally extending rod 102 extending to'the front end of the-machine Where an operating rod 103 leading to a foot 'pe'dal 103 places the f'clutch 100 under the control of the operator and by means of which the machine is thrown intoand out of operation.

Mounted on the shaft 99 is a gear pinion 104 which is in mesh with a second pinion 105qwhich is mounted upon the shaft 89 which extends transversely across the frame 10 0f the inachine from side to side and on .thefouterzend of which. on the rear side of v the machine is mounted the pinion 78, one

of the train of gears through which power is communicated to the sewing apparatus heretofore described. On the outer side of the gear pinion 78 is a thimble 106 posil. tioned in the gear pinion 78 at one side of the center thereof and which is adapted to engage in recesses 107 in theouter periphery of a star gear wheel" 108 mounted upon a shaft 108 secured to the frame, 10. Be-

tween eachof the'recesses l07fonithelgear 108 is formed a plurality of teeth 109 having a curvedrecess 110 in the ends thereof and into which a hub portion lll of the gear -wheel 78 is adapted to seat, the engagement of the hub 111 into the-recess 110 holding the wheel 108 stationary for a short fraction of time during 'a partial rotation of the thimble 106 which, be cause of its engagement in the recess 107 moves the wheel 108 intermittently in alstep by step motion and thus imparts to the feeding mechanism an intermittent movementv of these parts, thereby feeding the books into the machine and holding them stationary While. one movement of the drill head'49 is made and also a movement of the sewing needle 80. The shaft 31 extends across the frame 10 of the machine and has a gear -112'mounted thereon; at the rear side of the machine rwhichmeshes with a second gearj113 mounted upon the shaft 108 and through which movement is communicatedby means-of the. shaft 31 to the pulley 30 mounted thereon and which controls the movement-of the inner feed belt 33. The shaft 31 has a. gear ,wheel 114 mounted on the outer endthereof on the front side of the machine which'in turn connects by means of-atrain of gears 115, 116, 117 and 118, which lastmentioned gear ismounted upon the shaft 19 carrying the pulley 22- which carries the outer feed belt 26, these gear connections serving to move the two feed belts simultaneously and in 'sync'hronism with the other operating parts of the machine, and in an intermittent step by step movement.

Attached to the outer end of the shaft 89 is wheel 119 which serves to steady the LllflQiZ-TOTiOfChG machine, the said shaft 89 also" having a gear wheel 120 mounted therewhich meshes with a second gear Wheel 121 carrying a' smaller spur gear 122 which is in meshon one side with a gear wheel 123 having an eccentrically shaped channel 124 in its outer face within which a roller'125 mounted on theend ofaa bell crank 126 trayels, the bell crank lever be in-g pivotally mounted on a stud 127 securedto the frame 10 of the machine and having a rod 128 connected thereto by means of a pin 129, the said rod 128 being connected to a pivotally mounted lever 130 at theifront 'of ,th,e ma

chine by means of a pin 30*, the-said lever 130 having a slot 131 at its upper end through which apin' 132 extends into a slid-- ing block 133 which is mounted upon a guide member 134 secured to the frame 10 of the machine in any approved manner. The block 133 has a face plate 135 secured there- 1 to and also-has an arm 136 attached thereto which has a parallel extending screw 137 at its upper end with adjusting nuts 138 and 139 mounted thereon, the screw 137 having a plate 140 attached thereto to which a feed ing member 141 is atttached and which extends underneaththe upper belt 26 and rides upon thetop of the feed table 11 and serves to push the books 42 forward until the books are gripped between the upper feed belt 26 and the upper portion of the innerfeed belt 33, the books being handfed in the front of the block 141 and underneath the belt 26 by being pushed along the to? 'on at the front side of the machine and i I of the table 11 untilthey are "in contact with the guide member 54 which extends at the outer, side of the table 11. A similar guide member 142 is provided at the inner side of the book which serves to hold the books in from pushing out sidewise between the feed belts during the drill and sewing operations.

It will thus be understood that a s'th'e ma; chine operates, the bell crank 126 reciprocates the rod 130 which in turn moves the block 133 and the feeding block 141 back and forth underneath the belt and pushes the -books forward to a point where they are through the machine.

gripped by the feeding belts and carried Mounted upon the lower side of the frame upon a pair of arms 143 is a reel 144 carrying a roll .145 of reinforcing material,

such as muslin, heavy manilla paper or the like, and which is fed over a gum. applying roller 146 mounted upon the upper side. of a receptacle 147 Which is secured to the frame of the machine and from which a strip of material 148 isrun underneath a roller 149 strip is fed underneath the said roller 161 around a second roller 150 to a point immediately above the belt 33 where the strip 14815 fed on top of thebelt 33 with thegum side upward in position'to be applied" to.the books 42 as they are fed-in between the lower belt 33 and the upper belt 26. A similar reel 151 from whicha. strip of 'm a'terial 152 leads is provided which passes over a gum applying roller 153 mounted in a receptacle 154 at the upper side of the machine with retaining rolls 155 and 156 be; .ing provided to hold the strip 152 in contact with the surface of the roller 153 so that mucilage or paste-is applied to the undersurface of thejstrip 152. The strip 152 passes longitudinally of the machine around a pulley 157 carried by a standard 158 mounted upon the outer end of the rod 45 and thence back around another roller 159 mounted upon a standard 160, thence down ward around another roller 161 where the and on to the rear edges of the books 42 after they have left the drill press and before they reach the sewing machine, where both reinforcing strips are sewed to the books 42? as they pass throu h the machine.

It will thus be understood t at reinforcing strips are applied to the books as they pass through the machine uponteach side thereof and are fixed in position by the same stitch- 7 ing operation whichseWs the signature sheets together.

- In mesh with the gear wheel '12.? at the front side of the machine is, a gear wheel 162 on the outer side of which is a cam 163 I having a recess 164 in its outer face there of with an arm 165 being provided inter-- mediate the ends of which is -a roller 166.

which travels upon the surface of the cam 163. An arm 167 is provided to which the 'tact withythe cam member 163.

standing member 173 is provided upon which i is mounted a gear wheel 174 by means of a eoasso arm 165 is pivoted with a slida'bly' mounted member 168 at theupper end of the lever 165-and which slidesflina U.- shaped guide 169, the said member 168 having a rod 170 at the inner end thereof towhicha spring 171 is attached, the said spring being anchoredat its opposite end to the frame 10 of the machineby means of a bolt 172 and exerting-an inward pull upon the 'memher 168 and holding the roller 166 in con-' An upspindle 175 and which is'in engagement with a toothed rack 176 fixedly mounted on the upper side of the member 169. The

member 173 has a rotary cutting member 177 mounted on its upper end with a gear wheel 178 at one {side thereof and in engagement with the gear 174, this member traveling inward and 'serving to cut the threads which continue frdm one bookv to another after they are stitched, the rotary cutter passing between the books 42 as they r belts and discharged from the machine. -At

the'rear of the machine is a u shaped'me ms. her 179 having ashaft 180 located'therein upon the inner end of which 'is moun'tedga. roller 181 and upon which the booksqare discharged as they leave the lower feed belt 33 and on to a dischargefchute 182 which I passes downward transversely acrossthe-"m'achine and delivers the books 'to thef backi side thereof where they are picked up an operator and. placed upon a truck or a c on-,

veyor, as may be desired.

In operation the machlne 1s entirely automatic' and it will be understood that theoperator. as heretofore described,-plac'es the] blank books upon the table 11' atthe front end of the machine, andpushes them unden neath the upper feed belt 26 and in front of the block 141 where they are pushed forward, where the books are grippedtightly between the rollers mounted in theframe46' and the lower rollers 34 "mounted-in the channel 35 in the bed 11 and are conveyed by the feed belts in an intermittent ste by. step motion. underneath'the drill bits w here holes are formed in the rear marginal edges of the books'42 the lower binding strip-148 7 having been applied .to the blanks in the" meantime and they are then conveyedunderneath the sewing headso the holes are in register withthe. sewing apparatus, the hip per binding strip in the meantime havir'ig been applied thereto and are conveyed past 7 the reciprocating cutter belt where 'the 'bindlng strips and the-thread are cut and the booksconveyed to the rear of the machine,

where they are discharged onto the roller '18], and into the discharge chute 182 and delivered at the side. of the machine.

i and the While I have described more or less precisely the details of construction, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself. thereto, as 'I- contemplate changes in form proportion, of parts and the substitution equivalents as circumstances may i suggest or render expedient withoutdepa'rt- 'in combination a frame, a sewing .ing from the spirit or'scope of my invention. I claim 7 sewing head, and an automatic feeding deautomatic conveyor.

vice adapted to move the book :onto the 2. A book'sti hing machine, comprisingin combination, a. frame, a sewing head car ried by said frame a pair of conveyor belts mounted upon said intermittently actuate said conveying belts.

.' r 3.- A book stitching machine, comprising- Y :mounted-upon said frame, a sewing head, a

in combination, a' frame, a work table pair of endless conveyor belts mounted one inside theother, a plurality of pivotally mounted arms, a frame carriedby said arms,

* rollers mounted in ,said frame adapted to f contactwith the upper belt, and means car,- ried by said arm's whereby the upper feed belt is moved towardor 4. A book'stitching machine, comprising incombination, {a frame, a work table carried bysaid frame, a sewing head mounted upon said frame, a plurality -'of endless conveyor belts in alignment w th each. other and means to form holes in the bookbefore .it

passes under the sewing head, and means whereby the conveyor belts are causedto travel. intermittently; 5, A book' stit hing machine, comprising 1n combination, a frame, a w.ork tab-1e carried by said frame, asewing head mounted,

\upon said frame,"a plurality of endless'co'nveyor belts in alignment with each other:

and adaptedv to carry a book between said belts, means to fdrm holes in the bookbe- I fore' itapasses under the sewing head, and

,6. A book stitching machine, comprising .in combination, a frame, awork table carried by said frame a sewing head also mounted en'said frame, a plurality of'endless con-- .vevor belts adapted to carry a book, and a away from the said reciprocating head' adapted to form holes in said book before it passes under the sewing head, and means whereby the said conveyor' belts are caused to travel intermitten'tly; 4 I

7. A book stitching machine, comprising in combination, a. framd, a work table oarmounted upon said frame, a. pluralityfo'f endless conveyor belts adapted to carry a ing head, an eccentric gear co'nnection to said drill head for moving the same: and means whereby theconveyor belts are actuated intermittently, the said drill head being actuated in s'ynchronism with the travel of the said feed belts.-

8. A book stitching'maehine, comprising in'c.ombinati oi 1, a frame, a-work table carried by said fraine,'a sewing head also mounted uponsaidftame, a plur'alityof endless con frame, one of said belts V being positioned above the other means for feeding..a book between said conve or belts, .andf gear operating. mechanism a aptedto veyo'r belts adapted to carry'a book, are ciprocatingdrill head carrying a plurality of drill bits adapted to form.hol'es in said book .ried' by said frame, a sewing headalso before it passes'under the sewing'head, an

eccentric gear connection to said 'drill head for moving the same, and means wherebythe conveyor belts'are actuated -intermittently, thesaiddrill head being actuated in synchronis'm with the travel of'the said feed "belts in stepped'relation with eachother.

9. A book-stitching machine, comprising.

in "combination, a frame, a feed table mount-' ed thereon, a pair of endless conveyor belts mounted-lipon said frame, an automatic feeding device adapted to'move the books between .said; conveyor belts, a drillhead carrying .a plurality .lofdrill bits, means for causing the said conveyor belts to travel intermittently, and .means wherebythe said drill head. is actuated in synchronising with p th e travel of the said feed belts. adapted to-carry abookb'etween said belts,

1 0.' A book stitching-machine, comprising "in combination, a frame, a work table-mount ed upon saidiframe, apair of endless con- .veyor belts mounted upon' saidframe, said belts being invertical alignment with each other, a' sewing head m6unted uponsaid" frame, means forj attaching reinforcing strips to the outer sides of the said book vas ed upon said-frame, a pain of endless cone veyor beltsmounted upon'said frame, said belts being in vertical. alignment with each other, asewing head mounted upon said --frame, means for attaching a reinforcing strips to the-outer sides of thesa'id-book-as it passes through the said machine and be- :fore it passes under the -,sewinglhead, and, means for applying an adhesive-to the said frame, an upper and lower roller carrying reinforcing strips, adhesive applying rollsaid belts being in'vertical alignment with "in combination, a

to hold thesaid conveyor belts in spaced reers over which said strips pass, and means for feeding the reinforcing strips to the said book as it passes through the said machine.

13. A book stitching machine, comprising in combination, a frame, a work table mounted upon said frame, a pair of endless conveyor beltsmounted upon 'said' frame,

each other, a drill mechanism adapted to form holes insaid 'book,.asewing head mounted upon said frame, means for attaching reinforcingvstrips to the outer sides of the said book as it passes -'through the'said machine and-before it passes under the sew ing head, andmeans for applying an adhe sive to the said reinforcing strips'before they are applied tothe said book.

' 14. A book stitchin machine, comprising rame, a work table mounted thereon, a pair of conveyor belts in vertical alignment with each other, supporting means for said lower belt mounted in said work table, su porting rollers for said upper belt intermediate its ends, means adapted to force a book betweensaid conveyor belts, a-drillmechanism, .a sewing head, a gear mechanism adapted to reciprocate the said drill mechanism and the said conveyor belt in synchronism with each I other. v

' 15, A book stitching machine, comprising in combination, a frame, a work table mounted thereon, a pair of conveyor belts in vertical alignment with each other, means head.

' mounted presser foot.

lation with each-other, "a. drill mechanism, a sewing head, a Geneva .gear' mechanism adapted to ;impart intermittentmotion to said conveyor belts and an eccentric driving connection for 165A book stitching machine, comprising in combination, a frame, a work -t-able mounted thereon, a pair .of conveyor belts in vertical-alignment with each pther, means to hold the said conveyor belts in spaced relation with each other, a drill mechanism, a

adapted to impart intermittent motion to said conveyor belts in an eccentric driving connection for reciprocating the said drill head, the said drill head reciprocating the said drill having resiliently sewing head, a Geneva gear mechanism 17 A book stitchingmachine, comprising i in combination, a frame, a work table mounted thereon, a pair ofconveyor belts" in vertical alignmentwith each-other, means to hold "the ,said conveyor belts in spaced relation with each other, a' drill head, a sewing head, a Geneva gear mechanism adapted to impart intermittent motion to said con veyor belts, an eccentric driving connection r Y for reciprocating the said drill head, a drill .guide yieldingly secured tosaid drill head.

18. A book stitching machine, comprising in combination, a frame, a. work table mounted thereon, a pair of conveyor beltsin vertical alignment with each other, means for holding said conveyor belts in'spaced' relation witheach other, a ,pivotally mounted arm adapted to force a book between said conveyor belts, a drilling mechanism havin a plurality of drill bits' mounted therein, an

a sewing head mounted upon said frame and underneath which the books are carried by the' said conveyorbelts'g Signed-at Chicago, Illinois, this 24th day 

